The last auto manufacturing plant on the west coast will close, Toyota confirms

The last remaining auto-making facility on the west coast will
close in March now that Toyota confirmed rumors the plant will close
at some point next year.

Toyota's board voted
to halt production at the Nummi plant in Fremont, California, a
facility built in 1984 that Toyota shared with General Motors.
GM ended the partnership several months ago, which immediately
started rumors of a possible plant closure sometime in 2010.

The Nummi plant produces the Toyota Corolla, Matrix, and Tacoma
along with the Pontiac Vibe (which is being killed along with the
Pontiac brand).

United Auto Workers union members have entered
negotiations with New United Motor Manufacturing officials,
attempting to see if there is any way Toyota will keep the factory
open longer. The Nummi facility served as Toyota's first
manufacturing foray in the United States, with Nummi employees saying
it was them who helped shape Toyota's success.

Toyota, which
hasn't had to close a plant outside Japan, was rumored to announce
the plant's closure last spring. Nummi currently employs 4,600
employees, and if Toyota halts production, then the plant's closure
will put all of those employees out of work. Furthermore,
supports indicate the ripple effect from Nummi's closure could impact
up to 50,000 people.

Toyota is expected to reduce worldwide
capacity from 1 million vehicles down to 700,000, with the Nummi
closure expected to help Toyota reach that goal.

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